Designing
Digital Humans

Guido Jongen is a seasoned professional with a robust background in applied artificial intelligence and customer service. Through his company, Virtually Human, he leverages extensive expertise in chatbot and speech recognition technologies to focus on the next evolution in human-computer interaction: Digital Humans. Guido is dedicated to advancing the adoption of lifelike Digital Human technologies across sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and customer service. He collaborates closely with various universities to bridge the gap between research and market applications. Additionally, Guido serves on the AI Committee of the Dutch Direct Marketing Association and is a board member of Another Kind of Blue, an innovative dance company integrating immersive technology into their performances.

Dr. Lotte Willemsen is a distinguished communication scientist specializing in the intersection of technology and human interaction. As a professor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, she leads research on how society and organizations can maintain human-centric communication in an increasingly digital world. Her work emphasizes the importance of empathy and ethical considerations in digital communication strategies. Dr. Willemsen has contributed extensively to academic literature and has been instrumental in fostering collaborations between academia and industry to promote meaningful digital interactions.

Marije Brom is a senior researcher and program manager at Creating 010, part of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Her work focuses on making artificial intelligence accessible and applicable within the communication field. Marije has a background in digital consultancy and strategy, having worked with agencies like Jungle Minds and DPDK. She is passionate about exploring the role of virtual humans and influencers in enhancing human-computer interactions and has been recognized for her efforts in bridging the gap between technology and communication practices.

Iris Withuis is a lecturer and researcher at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, specializing in media, communication, and technology. Her research interests include virtual influencers and the societal impact of AI-generated media. Iris is committed to examining how emerging technologies can be integrated responsibly into communication strategies and has contributed to various interdisciplinary projects aimed at understanding the ethical implications of digital media innovations.